Ruffle ironer



0a. 12, 1948. B. JJLITKE 2,451,102

RUFFLE IRONER Filed March 14, 1947 lllz'eutar Bernhardt J. Lifke 48 By fizwaaiw WWI/way 8 Home Patented Oct 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUFFLE IRO ER Bernhardt J; Litke, Burbank, Calif. Application March 14, 1947, Serial No. 734,705 1 Claim. (o1.219 21 This invention relates generally to irons for pressing cloth, and more particularlyto an ironer for rufiles and the li'ke,-ccmprising a pair of pivoted and crossed shank members, with handles at one end and electrically heated cylindrical members at the other end. K

It is well und'erstoodthat'devices of this general character, used for curling hair and the like have been developed and used, an'da basic patent for such structure is not hereby sought, but what is sought to be protected by Letters Patem includes the hereinafter" described improve-- ments and refinements in the structure of devices of thi character which make the instant invention particularly well adapted for a particular use, that is, the pressing of ruflles and tubular pleats.

It is an object of this invention to provide an ironer which is complete within itself and may be used without any auxiliary equipment, a few minutes after the electrical leads are plugged into an electrical socket.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this character in which the actual ironing elements are round pointed cylinders with no sharp edges, thus facilitating the manipulation of the ironer with relation to the irregularly shaped cloth which it is sought to press.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which, by reason of the cylindrical form of the heated elements, enables the device to be easily rolled or slipped along the cloth, during the actual use of the device.

And a last object to be specifically mentioned is to provide a device of this character which is relatively inexpensive and practicable to manufacture, which is extremely simple and convenient to use, and which will give generally eflicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter de scribed in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a material part of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the assembled ironer;

Figure 2 is a grouped vertical sectional view of the cylindrical caps and the electrical heating elements, the view being taken on the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the shank and handle portions of the device.

will be noted that the device includes two shank;

portionsdfl and 12, which are disposed in crossed relation and pivoted on the pivot pin l4. 7 The shank portions I0 and IZ are each oflset trans versely but in planes normal to each other, so thatthe-corresponding pairs of ends of theshanks are in substantial,alignment. 7 One pair arenas of the .shanks are formed with flanges Band I8" which are bentiinto annular form, as best illustrated in Figure 3. The shank pornbns are each apertured as at 20, and grommets of insulative and flexible character are inserted into the apertures, these grommets being preferably located adjacent to the flanges l6 and 18.

The other ends of the shank members I!) and 12 are provided with handles 24- and 26 which are provided with looped portions 28 and 30, and the whole or any preferred portions of these handles and looped portions will be covered with plastic material 32 and 34, according to individual preferment, this plastic material being ordinarily of relatively deformable material and of insulative character, to increase the comfort and safety of the operator using the device.

Two similar electrodes 36 and 38, of insulative material, are terminally secured within the annular flanges l6 and I8, and these electrodes will ordinarily be of elongated cylindrical character, spirally grooved to receive and support resistance coils 40 and 42, it being noted that these coils are endless, and will normally be connected in parallel to the power lead 44, the proper electrical connections being made between the individual coils lead 46 and 48 and the power lead 44, and an insulated sheath 50 being provided to enclose the leads 4B and 48. This sheath 50 may be made relatively inflexible and secured to one of the handle members, preferably the handle member 2 6, by integral flanges 52 and 54 provided on this handle and adapted to be bent over the sheath 50 to hold the same in place, all as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. The electrodes 36 and 38 may be laterally recessed to allow the leads 4'8 and 4:8 to be inserted within the annular flanges l6 and I8, and all these parts, particularly the electrodes 36 and 38 and the flanges l6 and 18 should be tightly and firmly associated, so that the electrodes will not vibrate within the elongated cylindrical caps 54 and 56. These caps are slightly longer than the electrodes 36 and 38 and are round pointed as at 58, and open ended as at 60, so that the same may be inserted exteriorly of the annular flanges l6 and I8, whereon they will be normally soldered, welded or otherwise attached as indicated by the numeral 62. It will be noted that the electrodes are spaced from the caps 54 and 56 and that this simple construction adequately provides for support of the various elements concerned, the elements being preserved in proper, operative relationship.

Many and various useful modifications of this invention may be made, including variations in the method of forming the handle portions, securement of the electrical leads, and the like, all without altering the utility or method of operation of this device. The method of operation of this invention will be clearly understood from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the above recitation of the objects sought to be achieved thereby but, in recapitulation, it may be noted that the leads 44 are connected to a source of electrical power, whereupon the resistance coils 40 and 42 will be heated and the heat will be transferred to the elongated cap members 54 and 56. The device is grasped by the hand of the operator, and the heated cap members are inserted into the rufiles or tubular pleats and manipulated so that the complete surface area thereof is smoothed or pressed, due to the combination of the effects of the heat produced by the resistance coils and the pressure exerted by manually compressing the handle portions together while the device is in place.

Though there has been shown a particular embodiment of this invention, this application is not limited to this particular embodiment, but it is desired to include in the scope of this invention the construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions substantially as set forth the appended claim.

Having thus described this invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

An ironer for ruffles and the like comprising a pair of pivoted and crossed shank members, handles on one pair of adjacent ends of said shank members the portions of the shank members on the side of the pivotal connection thereof remote from said handles comprising short stubs, flange members on the ends of said short stubs, elongated cap members secured to said flanges, and electrical heating elements operatively mounted Within each of said caps, said cap members being open ended cylinders, the open ends REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Jones May 21, 1946 Number 

